Rep. Demmer Tasked to Study Local Government Consolidation

on
Monday, March 02, 2015

Dixon… Governor
Bruce Rauner issued Executive Order 15 last week, creating the Local Government
Consolidation and Unfunded Mandates Task Force. State Representative Tom Demmer
(R-Dixon) was appointed to the task force as one of two representatives from
the House Republican Caucus.

“I was honored to have been chosen for this task force,”
said Rep. Demmer. “I believe it’s important that we take a closer look at how
unfunded mandates affect local governments and school districts. We have an objective
to study and make recommendations to consolidate local governments and school
districts with the goal of improving the delivery of government and education
services at a lower cost to State taxpayers.”

The purpose of the task force will be to study issues of
local government and school district consolidation and redundancy. Illinois has
the highest number of local governments in the United States with 6,963 units.
Since 2000, Illinois school districts have been saddled with at least 140
unfunded mandates.

Task Force Duties as Assigned:

Conduct
a comprehensive review of State laws relating to local government and school
district consolidation.

Conduct
a comprehensive review of State laws relating to unfunded mandates on local
government bodies and school districts.

Identify
opportunities to replace, revise, or repeal unfunded mandates placed on local
government and school districts.

Discuss
solutions and impediments to consolidation of local governments and school
districts.

Analyze
the success of programs and legislation with similar goals implemented in
Illinois and other states.

“State policy should be encouraging cooperation amongst
local governments and school districts to consolidate and streamline function
while eliminating unfunded mandates,” said Rep. Demmer. “Both deliver critical services
to local residents and businesses that have been suppressed by numerous State
mandates that continue to drain their budgets. The task is challenging, but
it’s something that absolutely needs to be resolved.”

The task force will hold four meetings throughout the State
to gather information and recommendations from local governments and school
districts. A final report will be submitted to the Governor and General
Assembly at the end of the year.